This deliciously simple recipe from Beard’s American Cookery puts us in the Bastille Day spirit. Make sure you have plenty of fresh, crusty baguette on hand to soak up the buttery, aromatic broth.
2 to 3 quarts mussels, scrubbed and bearded
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 to 3 sprigs parsley
1 stick unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
½ cup white wine
½ cup chopped parsley
¼ teaspoon Tabasco
Place the garlic, onion, parsley sprigs, 4 tablespoons of the butter, salt, and pepper in a large pot. Add the mussels and pour the wine over them. Cover tightly and cook over low heat until the shells open. Transfer the mussels to a soup tureen or serving dish. Add the remaining butter, chopped parsley, and Tabasco to the pot. Adjust the seasoning and serve the mussels in soup plates along with some of the broth and plenty of crusty bread.